2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Joplin, MO vs Iowa City, IA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa City or is it cheaper to live in Joplin?
- Iowa City is 15.9% more expensive than Joplin.

Which city has more affordable housing, Iowa City or Joplin?
- Iowa City housing costs are 78.9% more expensive than Joplin housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Joplin or is Health Care more affordable in Iowa City.
- Health related expenses are 0.5% less in Iowa City.
 Joplin, MOIowa City, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock89.6100
 Food & Groceries94.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock104.0100
 Housing44.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$265,800$338,100
 Utilities103  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock68.5100
 Miscellaneous69.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Joplin    22 Reviews

Wow, this content is dated. Here's an update on Joplin: The Joplin community is rapidly becoming an affordable, livable version of the urban lifestyle that offers  More

   |    Reply

Over 10 years ago

Joplin is inexpensive to live in however humidity is through the roof if you have a roof due to the threat of tornados here. Winters are mild but usually instead of  More

   |    Reply

Over 12 years ago

Winter lasts about 4 months and is fairly cold. Mostly cloudy and dreary with very little if any snow. Spring lasts about 6 weeks and has plenty of rain. Summer lasts  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Joplin

Reviews for Iowa City    24 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

I was there 5 years. Nothing to do but we’ll go shopping... at Walmart. It lacks so many things. There is no experience here, it jumps on any political band wagon and  More

   |    Reply

Over 5 years ago

Entertainment lacks greatly - especially the Hancher shows. I was hoping after they rebuilt they would be getting better shows there, that didn't happen. One has to  More

   |    Reply

Over 7 years ago

Iowa City is great. It's diverse and never boring. There always a variety of new shops and restaurants to explore and try out. Also watching college kids do stupid  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Iowa City


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.